Cargill Commits $520,000 to Support National FFA Organization Programs, Initiatives

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A large portion of Cargill's corporate sponsorship of FFA will support “Blast Off,” the organization's annual training conference for newly-elected state officers that helps them identify strengths, develop personal growth plans, master public speaking and improve management skills.

Cargill has been a corporate sponsor of the National FFA Organization for 53 years.

We believe Cargill’s support will strengthen members’ skills, engage them in the fight against hunger and provide many channels to build character, shape careers and give back to their communities.

Indianapolis, Indiana (PRWEB)September 23, 2013

Minnesota-based Cargill has pledged more than $520,000 to support several National FFA Organization programs and initiatives.

A large portion of this corporate donation to the organization – $160,000 – will support “Blast Off,” an annual training conference for newly-elected state FFA officers that helps them identify their strengths, develop personal growth plans, master public speaking and improve management skills.

The company has also pledged $150,000 to support the organization’s continued development of its Agriculture Career Network (AgCN), an online portal that FFA members use from middle school through college and beyond to track educational accomplishments, build career portfolios, apply for awards and scholarships, pursue internships and apply for jobs.

Cargill has further committed an additional $300,000 to support AgCN over the next two years.

Contributions from the company will also help fund the expansion of the organization’s “Feeding the World-Starting at Home initiative” to fight hunger; support the staging of the 2013 National FFA Agriscience Fair, a competition hosted at the annual National FFA Convention & Expo for FFA members interested in agriculture science and technology; and sponsor two national competitions for FFA members, one focused on food science and technology and another involving meat evaluation and technology.

“Cargill is proud to be in its 53rd year as a major supporter for the National FFA Organization,” said Dirk Jones, vice president of Cargill’s ground beef and trim supply chain business and board member of National FFA Foundation Sponsors’ Board. “Developing young leaders is foundational to any organization’s long-term success. We believe Cargill’s support will strengthen members’ skills, engage them in the fight against hunger and provide many channels to build character, shape careers and give back to their communities.”

Employees at Cargill support their local FFA chapters, state FFA associations and the National FFA Organization by volunteering, offering expertise and mentoring members interested in pursuing careers in agriculture. At the annual National FFA Convention & Expo, employees provide hands-on leadership training and career exploration to more than 500 FFA state officers from throughout the country.

The National FFA Foundation is the fundraising arm of the National FFA Organization, which provides leadership, personal growth and career success training through agricultural education to 557,318 student members in grades seven through 12 who belong to one of 7,498 local FFA chapters throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.